A do-or-die mission at world championships for Hafiz

By RAJES PAUL
Thestar online (http://www.thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2007/7/30/sports/18443192&sec=sports)


PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Mohd Hafiz Hashim will not take all the heavy criticism over his poor performances on international stage lying down.
Fed up with his poor results, Hafiz said that he did not want to continue to be a disappointment for coach Misbun Sidek.
And he is all fired up to face the challenges in the World Championships, which will be held at Putra Stadium from Aug 13-19, as though it will be his last chance to redeem himself.
On Saturday, a frustrated Misbun warned Hafiz to buck up or face the music. The breaking point for Misbun came after Hafiz's defeat by world number 57 Stanislav Pukhov of Russia in the second round of the Philippines Open about two weeks ago.
Earlier, he had lost to Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand in the second round of the China Masters.
“I accept Misbun's comment and understand his disappointment over my poor performances. I lost to Boonsak and the Russian and these are not the results you want before a major event like the World Championships,” said Hafiz.
“I need to perform well in the world meet to bring back the confidence in me and the confidence of others in me. This is the only chance I have right now.”
Hafiz is so focused on his fourth appearance in the world championships that he did not want to think of the other tournaments lined up for him this year.
Due to his downward spiral performances, he is now ranked 16th in the world. He will be drawn to meet one of the top eight players in the third round.
Hafiz, known for his skilful game but inconsistent fitness level, however, will find another poser in his bid to snap out of the rut. He has poor records performing at home.
His best achievement was only a quarter-final appearance in the 2005 Malaysian Open.
“It look so hard for me. I do not even have a good record at home. But I am trying to increase the pace of my game,” he added.
Last year, Hafiz was a quarter-finalist in Madrid.
At the two previous editions in Birmingham (2003) and Anaheim (2005), he was an early round casualty.
Besides Hafiz, Malaysia will have three other entries in the men's singles. They are Lee Chong Wei, Lee Tsuen Seng and Mohd Roslin Hashim.

i dunno, i find it difficult to believe that hafiz can get very far. i'd like him to do well, but i don't think he's got enough focus to do it. losing to boonsak isn't really the issue, BP's a great player who has beaten several of the top guys now, but losing to pukhov (no offense to him) was dissapointing.

Hopefully he can deliver. At least dispose all the seeded players.

Does Hafiz still believe anyone would listen to him ??? I don't believe he will be able to make it to quarter-finals.

quarter finals? i hope he can do well too but my head keeps telling me that he will be gone on the third round (or even before that)...heart-breaking but that's what on my mind........

Highly talented but inconsistent. The AE title had gone to his head.

He's a goner.

3rd round is "reasonable" for him.

i doubt he will be back anytime soon... or should i say whether will he be back anyways... :)

i say he'll be gone 2nd round or even first

ah, this is all speculation, there's no point making predictions about how far he'll go before we see the actual draw, wait for there to be a mistake, then see the redraw. if the final version of the draw pits him against LD or TH in the first round, then he's a goner .... well, most of the other players would be a goner as well, in his defence.

Firstly.. Wonder Why so many ppl concerned about HH here?
He is already giving so many poor perfomance..
His form is exactly the same as MAS Football team.. Sending him to this WC07 will makes MAS more shameful ! Coz he will lost to any unknown players any time any where.. Home ground doesnt have any advantages for him at all !

Firstly.. Wonder Why so many ppl concerned about HH here?
He is already giving so many poor perfomance..
His form is exactly the same as MAS Football team.. Sending him to this WC07 will makes MAS more shameful ! Coz he will lost to any unknown players any time any where.. Home ground doesnt have any advantages for him at all !

nah, hafiz has done better than the football team, at least he's won something notable, though nothing since then. when has the MAS football team achieved anything on the world stage?

ah, this is all speculation, there's no point making predictions about how far he'll go before we see the actual draw, wait for there to be a mistake, then see the redraw. if the final version of the draw pits him against LD or TH in the first round, then he's a goner .... well, most of the other players would be a goner as well, in his defence.
Hafiz should be seeded 9-16 so should avoid all seeds til R3 but could run up against a Pukhov type even R1; lets hope he doesn't draw Lee Hyun Il R1!

Hafiz should be seeded 9-16 so should avoid all seeds til R3 but could run up against a Pukhov type even R1; lets hope he doesn't draw Lee Hyun Il R1!

Uh? I tot LHI is not pick by the Korean for this WC??

3rd round is "reasonable" for him.

Rank #16 in the world now and given Boonsak and Chen Hong are not participating, Hafiz will be seeded 14th so his first/second round could very well be against Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan, Chen Jin or Chen Yu. Very doubtful he can advance that far. If Hafiz doesn't know how to revive his career, put him under Rexy, nothing to lose anyway?

Rank #16 in the world now and given Boonsak and Chen Hong are not participating, Hafiz will be seeded 14th so his first/second round could very well be against Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan, Chen Jin or Chen Yu. Very doubtful he can advance that far. If Hafiz doesn't know how to revive his career, put him under Rexy, nothing to lose anyway?
Its not the matter of whose being the coach of HH. Even LYB's magic also can't help him as his doesn't have desire to win.. His fighting spirits is very poors. Which I believe If one players were weak in their skills. They needs to have those kinda spirits in their plays. Thats why we can often see some upsets in a baminton tournaments...